Signaling system



J. F. MORAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

"A'PPLlCATION FILED JUNE 8. m1.

W EL 1 H e Z m f 0 m w m aw P H Affy JOHN F. MORAN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WE$TERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 013 NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 8, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MORAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SignalingSystems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to signaling systems, its object being to providemeans for operating signaling devices associated with telephone or otherlines or systems.

In accordance with this invention there is provided for each of severaltelephone lines a relay through whose contacts the line normally extendsto the usual central oifioe telephone apparatus. By the actuation of anoperator-controlled key the relays are operated to disconnect the linesfrom the central oflice telephone apparatus and to connect the lineswith signal sending apparatus which when set in operation divides thelines into groups and causes the operation of the signaling devices ofone group, then those of a second group and so on throughout the groups.A warning or guard signal is operated while the operator-controlled keyis actuated to warn the operator that the lines have been disconnectedfrom the central office telephone apparatus. By the actuation of anotheroperator-controlled key, the lines of one group or of all groups may beconnected with the operators telephone set, whereupon the operator maysimultaneously communicate with all telephone stations of the severallines.

This invention mav be more readily understood by reference to thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which in Figure 1 there is shown a plurality of telephonelines terminating at a central office at which is located apparatus bymeans of which the stations of the several lines may be si naled ingroups, and apparatus by means of which the several lines maybesimultaneously connected to an operators telephone set, and in Fig. 2there is shown driving mechanism for the apparatus controlling thesignaling of the lines by groups. I

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a plurality of telephone lines 10,20, 30, 40,50 and extend from subscribers stations to a central ofliceand there terminate in jacks.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 173,543.

' For convenience the full equipment for only one line, namely line 10,is shown, its jack being designated by reference numeral 6. Associatedwith each line is the usual line relay 7, line lamp 8 and cut-0E relay9. Each telephone line upon entering the central office extends throughnormally closed contacts of two relays. For example, the conductors oftelephone line 10 extend through the normally closed contacts of relays11 and 12. The telephone lines are divided into groups, lines 10, 20 and30 being in group 1, and lines 40, 50 and 60 being in group 2. Othergroups of lines are diagrammatically illustrated by the rectangles 3and 1. While each group as shown comprises only three telephone lines itwill be evident that this number may be increased.

For the purpose of signaling on the different groups of lines, theequipment within the dotted rectangle 5 and a key 70 are provided. Thisequipment comprises a rotatable shaft 71 upon which are mounted camwheels 7 2, 7 3 and 74:. The several cam wheels 7 2, 7 3 and 7 1 areengaged by insulating rollers carried by the free end of contact springs76, 77 and 78 respectively, adapted in the rotation of the cam wheels toengage contacts 79, 80 and 81 respectively. A source of signalingcurrent 82 is connected with the contact spring 78. A second shaft 83 isgeared to the shaft 71 by means of gears 84 and 85 ofsuch ratio that theshaft 83 makes one revolution while the shaft 71 is making tworevolutions. The shaft 83 carries a cam wheel 86 which engagesinsulating roller 7 5 carried by a contact spring 87 adapted to engagecontact 88 to maintain a relay 89 operated during the second halfrevolution of shaft 83 or the second full revolution of shaft 71. Theshaft 71, when started, is adapted to make two complete revolutions. Thedriving mechanism therefor may be similar to that shown in Fig. 5 of thepatent to G. Brown, No. 1,155,64E0.

This driving mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, may comprise frame platemembers 105 and 106 secured together by rods 107, 108 and 109. Supportedin these frame plates 105 and 106 are shafts 110 and 71, the shaft 110constitutin a driving and the shaft 71 the driven shaft of themechanism. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 110 is a gear Wheel 11 1adapted to be driven by a spiral spring Patented June 10, 1919..

115 on the shaft 110. The gear wheel 114 meshes with a pinion 116 on theshaft ,71, which pinion. is secured to a gear wheel 117 on the shaft 71,the gear wheel 117 being in mesh with a pinion 118 loosely mounted uponthe shaft 110 and secured to a gear wheel 119. The gear wheel 119 inturn meshes with a pinion 120 loosely mounted upon the shaft 71 andsecured to a gear 121 Whiehmesheswith a worm on a governor shaft 122.This I governor shaft 122 is arranged at right angles to the shafts 110and fie d .isseprer' dl etw a 123 formed integrally with the frame platemember 106. The governor consists of two weighted spring arms 12a and125 which, as the governor shaft 122 is rotated, arecaused oth oi h ehts swiv ly sa n b h n r fa e. 91 me d ii m .126, t e rie n of theweights and drum tending to retard the movement of the rotating partsand k'ee them at a constant speed. The shaft 18 adapted to make twocomplete revolutions each time it is set in motion, and in thisconnection thetoothed wheel 71 is provided on one; facewitha projectingstop ,pin 130 adapted to ,engagega, movable stop lug 131 carried by theshaft 110. In the operation 7 of these particular, parts, the shaft 110is turned, by means of handle 132 provided on one end ofthe shaft, untilthe stop lug 131 comes into engagementwith a stop pin- 133 projectingfrom the frame plate 106. When thehandle isreleased, the two shafts HQand 71 travel at such relatlve speeds that the shaft 71 is caused tomake two complete revolutions, while the stop lug 131 is moving backinto position to engage the'stop pin 130 on the Wheel 7 1 The stop lug131 iss'hgwn in normal position in engagement with thestop pin130 butout of engagement with the stop pin 133, v When setting the drivingmechanism, the handle 132 is turned tothe right.

The several lines which upon entering the central office extend throughthe normally closed contacts of 'two relays may bejthe telephone linesof thefiremen of a volunteer fire alarm system of small community where,upon'receipt of information regarding a ,fire,. the central officeoperator may first signal the telephonestations oftheseveral firemen andmay then connect *these lines to the'operators telephone 'set so thatthe operator may simultaneously communic'ateto all firemen theinformation regarding the fire.

In order to accomplish'this object, the operator, upon receivinginformation regard ing, a vfire, first actuateskey 79, which is of thelockingtype,therebyicausing the operation of relays'11,;2-1 and 31 ofgroup 1, re

lays T41, 51 and 61 of group 2, andcorre- 'sponding relays of groups 3and 4. The relays of groups 1 and 2 operate over a circuit with thesignal sending apparatus illustrated within the dotted rectangle 5. Theactuation of key 7 0 also causes the operation of a buzzer which servesas a'si'gnal to the operator that the telephone lines have disconnectedfrom the central oflice telephone apparatus. The operator may now setthe shafts 71 and '83 rotating by turning the handle 132 of the drivingmechanism ,to the right and releasing it, wliere- 85 upon, during thefirst half of the first revolution of shaft 71,,the source of signalingcurrent 82 is intermittently connectedto the telephone lines of group 1through contacts 78, 81 and 76, 7 9 controlled respectively by the camwheels 7%. and 72, and the alternate contacts of the individual relays11 21 and 31 to cause the intermittent or periodic operation of the callbells 91 at the several telephone stations of group 1. During the secondhalf ,of the first revolution of shaft 71, contacts 77, 80' controlledloy cam wheel 73 are substituted for contacts 76, :79 controlled b-y camwheel 72, so that the call 7 bells o f the telephonestations in .group 2are operated. During the second revolution of sl aft 71, contaots87, 88controlled by, 'cam wheel 86 on shaft 83 are engaged, so that relay 8 9operated to disconnect the V sig'nalsending apparatus from groups1'and'1 05 2 and associate it with groups 3 and 4. It will be seen,therefore, that duringthe first half of the second revolution of shaft71', thecall bells in group 3will be operated, while during the secondhalf'ofthe second revolution, those of group 4: will be operated. Atthecompletion of the second revolution of shaft 71, relay 89 and theapparatus with-V in the dotted rectangle 5' are restored to normalcondition with the stop llug,131 in engagement with the stoppin 130. Theoperator may now restore key 70 to normal position, stopping theoperation of buzzer 90 and restoring the actuated individual re lays tonormal condition, whereupon the lines are again connected through to thecentral ofiice telephone apparatus 7 V In order that theinformationregarding a fire may be communicated to the several' firemen,the operator may now actuate 'key, ;92,;12 5 which is of the loc kingtyp'e', to cause the operation of'relays 1 2, 22' and 32- of group 1,relays {L2, 52 and 62,0fg1011p 2, L11d'th6 corresponding relays of theother. group's, whereupon the telephone lines are again disconnectedfrom the central office telephone apparatus, and are now connected withthe operators telephone set.

Upon the actuation of key 92, the buzzer is again operated over acircuit frombattery through the contact and winding of buzzer 90,right-hand contact of key 99 and upper contact of key 92 to ground, tofurnish a signal indicating that the telephone lines are disconnectedfrom the central office telephone apparatus, and the primary circuit ofthe operators telephone set including primar winding 93 of an inductioncoil, transmitter 94, retardation coil 95 and bat-- tery is completed.Talking battery for the telephone lines is furnished through thesecondary winding 96 of the induction coil, the receiver 97 of theoperators telephone set being connected across the telephone linesthrough a condenser 98. When it is desired to listen on the lines andnot talk, a key 99, which is preferably of the non-locking type, may beactuated to open up the primary circuit. After communicating with thefiremen, the operator may restore key 92 to normal, whereupon allapparatus returnsto normal condition.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of lines extendingfrom stations to a central oflice, a signaling device for each linelocated at the station thereof, a relay for each line, signal controlapparatus for each line located at the central office and connected withthe lines through normally closed contacts of the respective relays, aswitch operable to cause the energization of the relays to open thenormally closed contacts, circuit leads connected with the lines throughalternate contacts of the respective relays upon the energizationthereof, a plurality of conductors, each conductor being connected withpredetermined circuit leads, thereby dividing the circuit leads intogroups, a source of signaling current, and switchingmeans adapted whenactuated to connect the source of signaling current with predeterminedgroups of circuit leads in succession to cause the successive operationof the signaling devices by groups.

2. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of lines extendingfrom stations to a central oflice, a signaling device for each linelocated at the station thereof, a relay for each line, signal controlapparatus for each line located at the central oflice and connected withthe lines through normally closed contacts of the respective relays, aswitch operable to cause the operation of the relays to therebydisconnect the signal control apparatus from the lines, a plurality ofcircuit leads less in number than the number of lines, each circuit leadbeing connected to a plurality of lines upon the operation of the relaysthereby dividing the lines into groups, a source of signaling current,and switching means adapted when actuated to connect the source ofsignaling current to the circuit leads in succession to cause theoperation of the signaling devices by groups.

3. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of lines extendingfrom; stations to a central office, a signaling device for each linelocated at the station thereof, a relay for each line, signal controlapparatus for each line located at the central ofiice and connected withthe lines through normally closed contacts of the respective relays, aswitch operable to cause the operation of the relays to therebydisconnect the signal control apparatus from the lines, a plurality ofcircuit leads less in number than the number of lines, each circuit leadbeing connected to a plurality of lines upon the oper ation of therelays thereby dividing the lines into groups, a source of signalingcurrent, and a rotatable switching device adapted when started to rotatefor a predetermined period and to connect the source of signalingcurrent to the circuit leads in succession to cause the operation of thesignaling devices by groups.

4. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of lines extendingfrom stations to a central ofiice, a signaling device for each circuitleads less in number than the number of lines, each circuit lead beingconnected to a plurality of lines upon the operation of the relaysthereby dividing the lines into groups, a source of signaling cur rent,a relay common to the lines, and a rotatable switching devicecooperating with the relay to connect the source of signaling current tothe circuit leads in succession to cause the operation of the signalingdevices by groups.

5. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of lines extendingfrom stations to a central ofiice, a signaling device for each linelocated at the station thereof, a relay for each line, signal controlapparatus for each line located at the central ofiice and connected withthe lines through normally closed contacts of the respective relays, aswitch operable to cause the operation of the relays to therebydisconnect the signal control apparatus from the lines, a plurality ofcircuit leads less in number than the number of lines, each circuit leadbeing connected to a plurality of lines upon the operation of the relaysthereby dividing the lines into groups, a rotatable switching deviceadapted when started to rotate for two complete revolutions, and a relaydenergizeol during the first and energized during the second revolutionof the switching device and cooperating therewith to connect the sourceof signaling current to the circuit leads in succession to cause theoperation of the signaling devices by groups.

6. In a combined telephone and signaling system, a plurality oftelephone lines, each extending from a telephone station to a centralofiice, a signaling device for each line located at the station thereof,a first and a second relay for each line, a line signal controlapparatus connected with each line through normal contacts of therelays, an operator controlled switch operable to simultaneouslyenergize the first relays of all lines to disconnect the lines from theline signalcontrol apparatus, circuit leads less in number than thenumber of lines, each circuit lead being connected with a plurality oflines by the energization of the first relays and serving to divide thelines into groups, a source of signaling current, switch ingmechanismwhen operated connecting the source of signaling current to the circuitleads in succession to cause the operation of the signaling devices bygroups, an operators telephone set, and a second operator controlledswitch operable to cause the simultaneous energization of the secondrelays of all lines to connect the operators.

located at the station thereof, a first and a second'relay-for eachline, line signal control apparatus connected with. each, linethrough-normal contacts of the relays, an operator controlled switchoperable to cause the simultaneous energization of the first relays ofall lines to disconnect the lines from. the line. signal controlapparatus, circuit leads less in number than the number of lines, eachcircuit lead being connected with a plurality of lines by theenergization of the first relays serving to divide the lines intogroups, a source of signaling current, a rotatable switching device forconnecting the source of signaling current to the circuit leads insuccession to cause the operation of the signaling devices-by groups, asecond operator controlled switch, and an operators telephone setconnected with the lines upon the energization of the second relays whenthe second switch is actuated.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of June,A. D. 1917.

. JOHN F. MORAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, I). G. I r r

